Cyclooxygenase in the Lamb Ductus Arteriosus: Developmental Changes and Upregulation

The ductus arteriosus is kept patent in the fetus by a process involving prostaglandin (PG) E2, both local and blood-borne, as the main effector [1]. The PGE2-based relaxing mechanism develops early in gestation and, in fact, with a premature birth its intramural component may prevail over the oxygen constriction [1]. This knowledge has, on one hand, introduced indomethacin in the management of prematurely born infants with persistent ductus …